Ducks Co-Owner Henry Samueli Says Cup Run Just The Beginning

With the Ducks holding a 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals, co-Owner Henry Samueli said, “This is not going to be a one-year thing. We’re putting together an organization here that is committed to winning, to changing the culture and doing everything on a first-class basis.” He added, “We have a five-year business plan. We’re going to operate within the budget. We’re not going to spend money like a drunken sailor, but we are going to spend enough to win. This year our payroll was about $40.5[M]. [NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman] tells me the cap is going to be about $48[M]. We’re not going to spend that much. We’ll probably go up a little” (O.C. REGISTER, 6/5).

SALES: The Ducks recorded a $15.38 merchandise per capita for the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, up 75.4% over the average per capita in the ’06 final (Hurricanes, $9.26 and Oilers, $8.28) and 81.6% over the ’04 final (Lighting, $8.56 and Flames, $8.38) (NHL).

SOCAL: ESPN’s Jim Rome said of the Ducks needing one win to clinch their first Stanley Cup, “Canada, I know how badly you wanted this, but I have really bad news. Not only is the Cup not coming back where you think it belongs, but even worse, it’s going to stay here in Southern California where really nobody cares” (“Jim Rome Is Burning,” ESPN, 6/5).